Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-01-27
EGYPTIAN Luxuries.

An Alexandria correspondent writ
ing to the Detroit Free Press, says: Ip-
quiry into the method of preparing the
delicious coffee of Egypt-coffee served
IN minute cups, even smaller than the
after-dinner coffee cups of France and
of the same straight-sided shape
brought TO light the following facts:
First the coffee should be pure Mocha
from the little island so near out in the
Mediterranean. and. by the way, it is
almost impossible to get the real article
since 1t is all engaged years ahead.
Then the coffee is ground as fine as
flour. Next, small amount of the
coffee and the necessary amount of
sugar is put into brass or copper YES
sci shaped exactly like an ordinary
baby's tin-rattle, with the cover taken
of OF one of the feet ends. The cup thus
formed and containing the mixture OF
coffee and sngur is filed nearly full of
water and is held by the handle over
the fire until the coffee boils; then it ls
withdrawn and allowed to'cool a mo-
ment, and is then held over the fire and
the coffee allowed to come to boil
again; once moro ii is cooled and after
it is ready and is poured into the little
cups. The brass coflee-boiler generally
holds enough for two cups, though
larger ones are sometimes used. some
holding four cupfuls Tho liquid is
thick and brownish-black. with light
colored froth on top. and it is delicious.
After the coffee is drank, at the bottom
of the cup remains about three teaspoon
fuls of sediment that is like thick mud
and is the coffee deposit. This coffee
and glass of water and an amber
mouthpiece of the ten-foot long, flexible
stem of the narghileh are the sights
above the tables in all directions, aud.
searching below, we find scattered
around the glass vessels half filled with
water. to which the snaky stem may be
traced.
1t is decidedly lazy mans smoke.
as the tobacco is yeryamild and half an
hour is required to get half a smoke.
and how long pipe will last no one
knows. An hour and half is as long
as have smoked on one. and then it
was putting away better than ever. 1t
may take an inyeterate smoker TO enjoy
one of these water pipes, but when the
inveterate does get one he obtains
real treat after he has got the hang of it
and does notstirc himself out drawing
too hard. Smoking narghileh differs
from other kinds OF smoking in that the
smoke all goes through the water be-
low and is thus purified. aud also IN
the method, because in place of short
pulls is substituted deep breath, and
the smoke is taken into the lungs. II is
not possible to smoke the narghleh as
pipe is SMOKED, SO that those fearing
to inhale tobacco should never attack
this water-pipe, also called the ''hubble-
bubble" which seems very good
name, and appropriate. too. as 1t ex-
presses the noise made by the separate
bubbles rs they rise to the surface of the
water from the bottom OF the vertical
pipe that leads up the tobacco.
The natives take their coffee 8 and n
strong pull at this pipe, which is a regu-
lar piece of furniture, as soon rs they
get up in the morning. and seem to
keep at il all day, 100. They claim,
also. that tho narghlleh is good for
colds, and they deseryed credit for hav-
ing found an agreeable thing that is
good for any ailment, and that will re-
place fried onions around the neck of
the unfortunate soul with the cold.
The cafe is ms great an institution
with the people OF the Orient as it is
with the French. and the warm climate
makes the shaded outdoor tables the
popular ones, and they are crowded all
day. whether along the Mohammcd ALI
square aud in the crowded business
places or in the back alleyways where
The visitors sit or recline on cane-bot-
toned lounges and me iiiaiively draw
long draughts OF peace. Where all
these mca get living is mystery, rs
thousands Of them seem 20 do nothing
all day but drink c,tl,e and smoke.
The shopkeeper IN his little l0x10 store
smokes his narghil"h while waiting for
u customer. Inc ,,ing is rs necessary
to an Egyptian as his nat, and possible
more so.